Chain-linking machine



(No Model.) l 4 Sheets-Sheen 1. M HEIM. GHAIN LINKING MAGHINE.

Patented Apr. 4, 1893.

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M. HEIM. CHAIN LINKING MACHINE.

No. 494,780. Patented Apr. 4, 1893.

INVENTOR:

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n M HEIM y CHAIN LINKING MACHINE.

No. 494,780. Patented Apr. 4, 1893.

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M. HEIM. GHAIN LINKING MACHINE.

No. 494,780. v- Patented Apr. 4,1893.

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ATTORNEYS.

ATENT MARTIN HEIM, OF SYRACUSE, NEV YORK.

CHAlN-LINKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,780, dated April 4,1893.

Application filed October 1G, 1892. Serial No. 448,287. (No model.)

To all whom z5 may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN HEIM, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga,in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inChain-Linking Machines, of which the following, taken in connection Withthe accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of that class of chains whichare composed of links formed of flat plates, each of which is perforatedat both ends and bent across its center into the form of a loop andreceives through the perforations in its ends the loop of the adjacentlink formed in the same manner; and the invention consists in animproved organization of a machine which bends the link-blanks into therequisite loop shape and couples them together in an expeditions andefficient manner, all as hereinafter more fully described andspecifically set forth in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section online o5, 93, in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on linee, e', in Fig. 1. Fig. el is a vertical transverse section of the hoppercontaining the link-blanks. Figs. 5 and G are respectively side and planviews of the jaws which complete the bending of the blank into linkshape. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the devices for turning the blankfrom an edgewise to a horizontal position and for operating the pinwhich draws the blanks down into position to be operated on by theaforesaid jaws. Fig. S is a vertical transverse section on line y, y, inFig. 2. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal section of the bar which turns thelinleblank from a vertical into a horizontal position. Fig. 10 is anenlarged face view of the cam which imparts lateral motion to the leverwhich draws down the link-blank. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of thechain Winding, measuring and registering mechanism. Fig. 12 is an endelevation of the same with part of the case broken away, and Figs. 13and 14 are views of opposite sides of one of the registering Wheels. 4

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the base plate 'of the frame of the machine, and -A'astandard which rises from said base-plate. Said base-plate is providedwith avertical'transverse slot aat one side of which is the chute -O-erected on the base-plate. This chute is to contain the blanks fromwhich the links are to be formed, and is therefore of rectangular formin cross section to carry the blanks horizontally and piled up in a tieras indicated by' dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The chute isdisposed with the long sides of the rectangle parallel with the baseplate or at right angles to the slot -cL--, and the base of the chute iscurved laterally as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to turn the blanksthereat into a vertically edgewise position. A vertical slot -C- in thebase of the chute at the edge facing the slot -apermits the bottom blankto be pushed out endwise from the chute. Another similar slot isprovided in the opposite edge of the chute for the entrance of thepush-bar -b-f which pushes the blank from the chute a proper distance tobring the center of the length of the blank across the slot La At theopposite side ot the slot -aand in range with the delivery of the chute(3- is'a tubular bar -cmounted revolubly in suitable bearings-c'csecured to the base-plate -A-. The lend of said bar adjacent to theslot -ais provided with a transverse groove -cfor the purposehereinafter explained. Wfithin the bar -cis a cylindrical rod -clwhichnormally extends from the groove -'cthrough the opposite end of the barand through a collar -d'- fastened to the base-plate. Said rod issecured stationary in its position by nuts -CZ-d applied to thescrewthreaded end portion of the rod at opposite sides of the collar -CZBetween the collar OV- and adjacent bearing -cis a crank-e* which isrigidly attached to the end of the tubular bar -c-f and the hub of saidcrank is formed with a cam-shaped face -e'- at the side adjacent to thebearing -c' and the latter has lirmly allixed tfo it or formed integralwith it a similar cam e against which the hub of the crank is pressed bya spiral spring cinterposed between said hub and adjacent nuts--c-. lByturning the crank e, the bar -c receives a quarter turn IDO -c"-- theend of the link-blank pushedfrom the hopper and across the slot ct inthe bed plate, and the turning of the said bar i as aforesaid turns thelink-blank into a horizontal position, and in this position it is leftby the longitudinal movement of the bar --c-` which by aid of the rodCZ-'- liberates the blank from the groove we".

link I employ a horizontally disposed pin -fwhich has a verticalmovement terminating in lateral movements. In beginning to form thelinks and coupling the same I bend the first blank into U-sha-pe andinsert Ushaped blanlncauses the central portion` of the inserted blankto be drawn down into the .slot en -.by the U-shaped blank. The

pressure of the sides of the slot on the blank j drawn into said slotbends it'into `U-shape.

For carrying the pin fin the directions before described I preferablyemploy a vertically and laterally oscillatory lever which is pivotedintermediate its length to aA suitable support on `the base plate Afandhas a pin projecting later. ally from the end adjacent to the slot -aasshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

` For completing the bending of the blanks into the requisite link-shapeI employ twoI jaws -g--gwhich are movable toward and from each other anddisposed at opposite sides of the U-shaped blank which isiminediately`below the slot -a-.

Said -jaws are affixed to bars -g-gsliding longitudinally in a guide -g--secured to the base .plate -A-,

and in the approach of said jaws the end portions of the interposedblank are pressed to-l gether as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings.For operating the described link-forming l and coupling devices in theirrequisite order l I preferably employ the following mechanism. j In theupper end of the standard -A- I mount the shaft of the driving pulley-P-, and to said shaftI attach the eccentrics -B- a and -B- andcrank-wheel -B. wrist-pin of this crank-wheel I connect the pitman -D-whichin turn is connected to the upper end of a lever-D- pivoted to an jarm -E- on the standard and connected at` its lower end to the push -bar-ZJ to which it imparts a reciprocating motion and which pushes thelink-blanks from the chute C- and into position for being bent intolinkshape as hereinbefore described. The crank -ereceives the necessaryrocking motion to impart to the tubular bar a quarter turn by means ofthe eccentric rod -F- connected to the eccentric l5- and to one end of alever -L-which is pivoted to the standard -A-, and has connected to itsopposite rend the pitman -H-, which in turn is connected with the crank-eby a rod -I. The lever which carries the pin -f-,

receives its vertical oscillatorymotion 'from For bending the blank intothe shape of athe pitman I-I- which is connected at its lower extremityto the outer end of the said lever, by a wrist-pin attached-to theleverand passing through a vertical slot -i-in the pitlnan, said slotpermitting a ylimited lost motion which causes the lever to remain atrest while the straight blank is introduced into the U-shaped blank,`and` .turned into a horizontal position as hereifnbefore described. Thelateral oscillation of the lever is produced by a pin nprojectinglongitudinally from the outer end of theleverand moving in a cam-groove-o-formed ina bracket .-oattached to .the bed-plate.- A spring actuatedguard -tis .pivoted to the bracket and lies normally across the groove-oat .the `upper and lower portions thereof .to guide the pin -it.so asto cause it tomake a vcomplete circuit of .the cam-groove.

rocating motion from the eccentric -B-,

to one end of a lever \-L- pivoted -to .the standard -A-. 'lo theopposite endof said lever is connected the 'plunger I-, the lower-end ofwhich is beveled V-shaped. Said plunger thus reci procated passes withits bev- -eled end .between beveled cams ZZ-which .are attached `to thebars -g-gand are :automatically drawn `toward each other .by a spring-s-, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The/downward strokeofthe plunger forces the two cams apart and thereby press the two jaws-g-gagainst opposite sides of the blank to complete the link, as:hereinbefore described.

In connection with fthe described chain linking machine I prefer toemploy an appa- .ratus for automatically winding the chain 4upon adrum-N-. To impart the requisite imotion to the drum I mount on the shaft oflthe driving pulley -P, a crank-wheel P- andon the upper ends ofstandards -O-d or other suitable supports I journal a horizontal shaftkto which is fastened a ratchetwheel -O- and pulley O. On said shaft isalso mounted alever J- one endof which is slotted longitudinally andreceives through it the wrist-pin of the crank-wheel -P-'- .whichimparts an oscillatory motion to the lever. A `pawl -J- connected to the:lever and engaging the ratchet wheel -0- transmits intermittent rotarymotion to the latter The' jaws -eg-egreceive their requisite recip- IIOand to the pulley 0' To the lower portion of the standard O is journaledthe shaft to which are fastened a pulley Q and drum N. A belt connectingthe two pulleys O and Q transmits an intermittent motion to the drum Nwhich winds upon it the chain formed by my chain linking machinehereinbefore described.

If desired a suitable apparatus maybe employed for automaticallyregistering the nurnber of feet of chain wound upon the drum. Forexemplitication I have shown a registering apparatus R of the form of aplurality of wheels R R mounted loosely on one and the same shaft andeach having the numerals from O to 9 plainly marked and uniformlydistributed upon the periphery thereof. Said wheels are surrounded by acase having in front of each wheel an aperture of a size to expose oneof the numerals on the Wheel.

To the outer side4 of the first wheel (which represents units), isattached a ratchet-wheel r and to the opposite side of said wheel isconnected a pawl. which is adapted to engage a ratchet-wheel on theadjacent yside of the second Wheel. A spring t' holds the said pawlnormally out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel. A cam o on the innerside of the case which incloses the Wheel throws the pawl in engagementwith the ratchet-wheel of the second wheel at the end of each revolutionof the first wheel and' thus motion is imparted to-the second wheel. Thecam is of such a length as to hold the pawl in its engagement onlyduring a sudicient period to turn the second Wheel a distance equal tothat from center to center of two adjacent numerals, and in a likemanner each succeeding wheel receives such periodical motion at the endof each complete revolution of the preceding wheel. The first or unitregistering wheel R receivesvintermittent rotary motion by means of arockarrn u mounted on the shaft of the registering wheels and connectedat one end to the end of the lever J and provided at the opposite endwith a pawl u which engages the ratchet-Wheel r on the aforesaidregistering wheel.

The described mechanisms for transmitting motion to the first or unitregistering wheel are so proportioned and arranged that said registeringwheel is turned the distance from center to center of two adjacentnumerals thereon during the time required to manufacture one foot ofchain by the hereinbefore described chain-linking machine, and thus thelength of the chain produced by said machine is automatically measuredand registered.

It is obvious that an eccentric may be used in lieu of the crank-wheel Pand sprocket-wheels and a chain may be substituted for the pulleys O andQ and their driving belt, and I therefore do not limit myself in thatrespect.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and. desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In combination with the base-plate A provided with the slot a thechute O push-bar b and the lever f provided with the pin f and pivotedto move vertically and laterally as set forth.

2. In combination with the base-plate A provided with the slot o thechute O push-bar b and the revoluble bar c provided with the transversegroove c substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In combination with the base-plate A provided with the slot o. therevoluble bar c provided with the transverse groove c and the lever fprovided with the pin f substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the base-plate A provided with the slot a thechute O push-bar Z2 revoluble bar c provided with the transverse groovec" and the lever provided with the pin f substantially as described andshown.

5. In combination with the base-plate A provided With the slot lt thechute O push-bar b revoluble bar cprovided with the groove c the leverprovided with pin j" and the reciprocating jaws g g all combined tooperate as set forth.

6. In combination with the base-plate A in contact with the cam esubstantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the bars g g' moving in a guide g the jaws g gattached to one end of said bars, the cams Z Z attached to the oppositeend of the bars, the spring s drawing the cams toward each other, andthe plunger I entering between said cams as set forth.

8. The chute O disposed erect and of rectangular form in cross sectionand terminating with a laterally curved base provided with verticalslots at opposite edges, in coinbination with the puslrbar b enteringone of said slots to push the bottom blank from the chute as set forth.

9. In combination with the base-plate A provided with the slot ctthelever f provided at one end with the laterally pro jecting pin f and atthe opposite end with the longitudinally projecting pin vithe pitman IIimparting a vertical oscillatory motion to said lever, the bracket oprovided with the cam-groove O entered by the pin n and the guard tguiding the IOC IIO

pin and in' connection with said cam-groove ratchet transmitting motionfrom the lever to Io imparting a' lateral movement to the lever, oneofthe pulleys asset forth.A substantially as set forth. In testimonywhereof I have hereunto signed 10. In combination With the driving shaftmy name this 27th day of September, 1892. 5 of the chain linkingmaohine,and a. drum for winding up' the chain issuing therefrom, tMARTIN HEIM. [In s] crank mounted on said shaft, a lever aotu-Witnesses:

ated by said crank,` pulleys and a, belt trans- H. M. SEAMANS",

mitting motion to the drum, and a. paw] and C. L.- BENDIXOM

